Cam action detachable gooseneck trailer

ABSTRACT

A detachable gooseneck trailer ( 20 ) having a gooseneck ( 24 ) and a detachable trailer deck ( 22 ) utilizes a trailer attachment assembly ( 30 ) to draw the trailer deck ( 22 ) toward the gooseneck ( 24 ) during attachment. The attachment assembly ( 30 ) includes a pivoting carrier ( 66 ) having a retainer leg ( 84 ) with a rearward facing load carrier engagement surface ( 90 ). A slide member ( 68 ) is attached to the trailer deck ( 22 ) and provides a forward facing slide member engagement surface ( 94 ). As actuators ( 70 ) pivot the carrier ( 66 ) rearward, the load carrier engagement surface ( 90 ) slides over the slide member engagement surface ( 94 ). A latching mechanism ( 34 ) utilizes an elongated latch plate ( 122 ) pivotally mounted on the retainer leg ( 84 ) to automatically latch the carrier ( 66 ) to the trailerdeck ( 22 ). A latch biasing spring ( 124 ) biases the latch plate ( 122 ) toward its latched position, so that it automatically engages a catch ( 126 ) mounted on the trailer deck. A lift mechanism ( 36 ) utilizes lift actuator arms ( 148 ) extending from the tops of the load carrier ends ( 74, 76 ) to push down carrier arms ( 144 ) and support the gooseneck ( 24 ) above the ground. A ride height lock assembly ( 37 ) includes a pair of pawls ( 178 ) and a pair of ratchets ( 180 ) to lock the trailer deck at a desired ride height.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to trailers and, more particularly, to trailerswith detachable goosenecks permitting the trailers to be loaded from thefront ends of the trailer decks.

BACKGROUND

Trailers are frequently used to transport heavy equipment and machinessuch as farm tractors and implements. Given the size and weight of thisequipment, various trailer configurations and loading methods have beendevised. One configuration is commonly know as a detachable goosenecktrailer. A typical detachable gooseneck trailer includes a gooseneckwhich is coupled with a towing vehicle and a trailer deck whichremovably attaches to the gooseneck. To load and unload a detachablegooseneck trailer, the trailer deck is lowered to the ground anddetached from the gooseneck. The towing vehicle and gooseneck are pulledforward away from the trailer deck, and equipment is loaded onto thetrailer deck by driving onto the front of the trailer deck. After theequipment is loaded, the towing vehicle and gooseneck are backed up tothe trailer deck, and the gooseneck and trailer deck are reattached fortransport. Unfortunately, difficulties are frequently encountered whenattaching the gooseneck to the trailer deck.

When attaching the gooseneck to the trailer deck, an operator isrequired to back the gooseneck into alignment with the trailer deck.Achieving an alignment which is close enough to permit attachment isdifficult and may take several tries. This difficulty is compounded whenequipment is being loaded in a field or at a construction site whereboth the trailer deck and towing vehicle are likely resting on unevenground. When one or both of the gooseneck and trailer deck are tiltedfrom side to side because they are supported on uneven ground, theoperator may experience considerable difficulty in achieving analignment permitting attachment of the gooseneck and trailer deck with,for example, a vertical pin type connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide animproved detachable gooseneck trailer with an improved trailerattachment assembly, making it easier to detach and attach the trailerdeck with the trailer gooseneck, even when the trailer and gooseneck aresupported on uneven ground.

In carrying out the foregoing and other objects, the present inventioncontemplates an improved trailer attachment assembly for detachablyconnecting the trailer deck with the trailer gooseneck. The assemblyincludes a load carrier movable between a detached position and anattached position. The load carrier includes a load carrier engagementsurface, and a trailer deck engagement surface which is provided toengage the load carrier engagement surface. An actuator is operativelycoupled with the load carrier to move the load carrier into its attachedposition, thereby bringing the two engagement surfaces into contact anddrawing the trailer deck toward the gooseneck.

In a preferred embodiment, a front end securement protrusion extendsinwardly from the deck, and a receiver is defined by the gooseneck. Thereceiver is configured to receive the protrusion and secure the frontend of the trailer to the gooseneck. To draw the trailer deck toward thegooseneck, at least one, but preferably both of the engagement surfacescomprise an incline extending downwardly in a direction from the frontend to the back end of the trailer. Preferably, both of the engagementsurfaces comprise constant radius arcs. The load carrier engagementsurface is preferably elongated between opposite ends of the loadcarrier which are positioned on opposite sides of the centrallongitudinal axis of the trailer deck. The trailer deck engagementsurface is also elongated and extends beyond the load carrier ends. Theload carrier preferably comprises a pivot member which pivots betweenthe detached and attached positions. The pivot member has a retainer legwhich provides the load carrier engagement surface. As the pivot memberpivots toward the attached position, the load carrier engagement surfaceengages the trailer deck engagement surface, and the load carrierengagement surface slides over the trailer deck engagement surface.

It is further contemplated in the practice of the invention that thetrailer attachment assembly will be used in combination with a trailerhaving a substantially rigid gooseneck frame with the load carrierpivotally attached to a lower end of the gooseneck frame. A trailer decksupports a slide member which provides the trailer deck engagementsurface. The trailer also includes a plurality of ground engaging wheelsrotatably mounted to the trailer deck.

The invention is further directed to a trailer attachment assemblylatching mechanism having a pivotal latch plate, a latch plate biasingmember, and a rigid catch positioned to engage the latch plate when thelatch plate is in a latched position. The latch plate biasing memberbiases the latch plate toward the latched position.

In a preferred embodiment, the latching mechanism also includes a leverarm fixedly attached to the latch plate. The latch plate biasing memberengages the lever arm and is in tension, so that the biasing memberpulls the latch plate toward the latched position. A retraction memberengages another lever arm and is operative to overcome the latch platebiasing member and pivot the latch plate into an unlatched position. Thelatch plate is preferably elongated, and the catch preferably includesfirst and second catch blocks positioned adjacent opposite ends of thelatch plate. The invention contemplates using the latching mechanism incombination with the attachment assembly and trailer.

The invention is still further directed to a trailer attachment assemblylift mechanism operable to support the gooseneck above the ground whenthe gooseneck is detached from the trailer deck. The lift mechanismincludes a carrier arm pivotal about a hinge pin between a lift positionand a retracted position. In the lift position the carrier arm engages atowing vehicle frame. A lift arm actuator extends forward from themovable load carrier to engage the carrier arm and force it into thelift position when the load carrier is moved to the detached position.

In a preferred embodiment, a carrier arm biasing member biases thecarrier arm toward the retracted position away from the tow vehicleframe. Preferably, the carrier arm biasing member is in compression. Askid is connected to a terminal end of the carrier arm and is slidablyreceived in a channel of the carrier arm. Preferably, the lift mechanismis provided with a pair of carrier arms connected by a cross member, andanother lift actuator arm is provided to engage the second carrier arm.The invention contemplates using the lift mechanism in combination withthe attachment assembly and trailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded side view of a detachable goosenecktrailer having a trailer deck, gooseneck, and trailer attachmentassembly according to the present invention and illustrating the trailerdeck detached from the gooseneck;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, fragmentary side view of the trailer ofFIG. 1 illustrating a step in attaching the gooseneck to the trailerdeck;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the trailer of FIG. 1 illustratinga subsequent step in attaching the gooseneck to the trailer deck;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the trailer of FIG. 1 illustratingthe gooseneck attached to the trailer deck;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the trailer of FIG. 1 illustrating thegooseneck attached to the trailer deck and with the trailer deck in amaximum ride height position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the trailer attachment assembly of FIG.1 and further illustrating a latching mechanism, a lift mechanism, and aride height lock assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a load carrier pivot member of thetrailer attachment assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, partially exploded top plan view of the trailerof FIG. 1 and taken from the perspective of line 8—8 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the trailerattachment assembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 9—9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the trailerattachment assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating the step of FIG. 3 duringdetachment of the gooseneck to the trailer deck;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the trailerattachment assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating the trailer deck attached tothe gooseneck as in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the trailerattachment assembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 12—12 in FIG. 8 andillustrating attachment of the trailer deck;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the trailerattachment assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating the trailer deck in anattached position;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the liftmechanism of FIG. 6 taken along line 14—14 in FIG. 8 and illustrating alift position;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the liftmechanism of FIG. 6 and illustrating a retracted position;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view in partial cross section of the rideheight lock assembly of FIG. 6 taken along line 16—16 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 17 is fragmentary view in partial cross section of the ride heightlock assembly of FIG. 6 illustrating a maximum ride height position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the trailer 20 shown inFIGS. 1 and 6 includes a trailer deck 22 and a trailer gooseneck 24having a towing vehicle attachment 26 for attaching the gooseneck 24 toa towing vehicle 28 (partially shown). The gooseneck 24 and deck 22 aredetachably joined by a trailer attachment assembly 30 adjacent a frontend 32 of the trailer deck. When the trailer deck 22 and gooseneck 24are detached, equipment can be loaded and unloaded from the front end 32of the deck. The trailer 20 is also provided with a latching mechanism34 to automatically latch the gooseneck to the deck and with a liftmechanism 36 which supports the gooseneck 24 above the ground when thegooseneck is detached from the deck 22. When the gooseneck 24 and deck22 are attached and the deck is lifted off the ground, a ride heightlock assembly 37 holds the gooseneck 24 and deck 22 at the desired rideheight.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, the substantially rigid trailer deck 22is elongated between the front end 32 and a back end 38. A central,longitudinal axis extends between the front and back ends 32, 38. Anupper support surface 40 extends between left and right side framemembers 42, 44. The directions left and right are defined looking fromthe back end 38 to the front end 32 of the trailer deck 22. The uppersupport surface 40 is configured to receive cargo thereon, especiallyheavy equipment such as farm implements and tractors. A plurality ofground engaging wheels 46 are rotatably mounted to the trailer deck 22adjacent to the back end 38. The wheels permit the front end 32 of thetrailer deck 22 to be raised and lowered about a first transverse axisat the wheels 46. In a loading position (FIG. 1), the front end 32 islowered to the ground, and the deck 22 is inclined upwardly and rearwardwith the back end 38 above the ground. In a transport position (FIGS. 4and 5), the deck 22 is substantially level with both the front and backends 37, 38 disposed above the ground. To load equipment over the wheels46, the trailer deck has a raised portion 48 at the back end 38.Adjacent the side frame members 42, 44, the trailer deck 22 decreases inthickness toward the front end 32 of the trailer, so that equipment canbe loaded onto the front end of the trailer deck. To further facilitatedriving equipment onto the deck, fold down ramps (not shown), can behingedly attached to the front end 32 of the deck 22. However, thetrailer attachment assembly 30 of the present invention allows the frontend 32 to decrease substantially in thickness and thus, generallyrenders fold down ramps unnecessary.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 6, and 8, the gooseneck 24 includes asubstantially rigid gooseneck frame 50 having left and right gooseneckframe members 52, 54. The towing vehicle attachment 26 is attached tothe gooseneck frame 50 adjacent an upper-front end 56 (FIG. 2) of thegooseneck frame. The towing vehicle attachment 26 preferably comprises afifth wheel connector having a king pin (not shown) for connection withthe towing vehicle connection device 58 (FIG. 2). The towing vehicleattachment 26 allows the gooseneck to pivot about a third transverseaxis at the pivot of the towing vehicle attachment 26 and the connectiondevice 58. The gooseneck frame includes a forward cross bar 60 and arearward cross bar 62 which stabilize the gooseneck frame 50. Further,the forward cross bar 60 mounts portions of the trailer attachmentassembly 30 and the lift mechanism 36, and the rearward cross bar 62mounts portions of the ride lock assembly 37. A lower end 64 of thegooseneck 24 is positioned behind the towing vehicle 28 and pivotallymounts a portion of the trailer attachment assembly 30 between the leftand right gooseneck frame members 52, 54.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the trailer attachment assembly 30includes a lost-motion latch or load carrier pivot member 66, a slidemember 68, a pair of actuators 70, and a front end securement 72. Thetrailer attachment assembly 30 is mounted between the left and rightgooseneck frame members 52, 54 and does not extend above the tallestpoint of the gooseneck 24, so that equipment is easily loaded above oron top of the gooseneck as desired.

The load carrier pivot member 66 is a lost-motion latch in that itsinitial movement does not lift the deck, but rather, the initialmovement latches the deck to the gooseneck. The load carrier 66 includesload carrier left and right ends 74, 76 which are spaced apart and areconnected by an upper cross bar 78 and a bottom cross plate 80. Thecarrier ends 74, 76 generally comprise A-shapes with the upper cross bar78 joining the peaks of the A's and the cross plate 80 joining the crossportions of the A's. A front plate 91 also extends between and connectsto the carrier ends 74, 76. The front plate 91 also attaches to a pivotshaft tube 87. The front of the load carrier includes a securement leg82, and the rear of the load carrier 66 includes a retainer leg 84. Thecylindrical pivot shaft tube 87 is attached to the securement leg 82 anddefines a pivot shaft opening 89 which receive a pivot shaft 86therethrough. The pivot shaft 86 also extends through the lower ends 64of the gooseneck frame members 52, 54 to pivotally connect the loadcarrier with the gooseneck 24. Preferably, the cylindrical pivot tube 87extends between and slightly beyond the carrier ends 74, 76 androtationally houses the pivot shaft therein. Safety pins (not shown) areinserted through the ends of the pivot shaft 86 to secure the pivotshaft in the gooseneck and load carrier. Thus, the carrier 66 is movablyattached to the gooseneck frame 50 for shifting movement between thedetached/released position and a locked/attached position engaging thedeck and retaining the securement against release.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the retainer leg 84 includes a generallyfront-facing load carrier engagement surface 90. The load carrierengagement surface 90 preferably comprises a constant radius arc andextends substantially continuously between the carrier ends 74, 76. Theload carrier engagement surface 90 faces forward and comprises anincline extending downwardly from the front to the back of the loadcarrier. Thus, the load carrier engagement surface 90 also inclinesdownwardly from the front end 32 to the back end 38 of the trailer deck22. The load carrier engagement surface 90 is provided by lower, middle,and upper retainer leg surfaces 92A, 92B, 92C, respectively. The edges93 of the retainer leg surfaces 92 are preferably chamfered. Additionalbottom surfaces 95A, 95B, 95C close the rearward radius of the retainerleg, the forward radius of the securement leg, and the span between thepivot shaft tube and the rearward radius surface 95B, respectively. Theretainer leg 84 also mounts the latch mechanism 34 between the carrierends 74, 76.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, the slide member 68 preferably comprises acylindrical slide tube mounted on the trailer deck with its highestpoint just below the trailer deck upper support surface 40. The slidemember 68 provides a trailer deck slide member engagement surface 94which faces generally rearward and is positioned rearward from the frontend 32 of the trailer deck 22. The slide member engagement surface 94preferably comprises a constant arc and is inclined downwardly from thetrailer deck front end 32 to the trailer deck back end 38. Though bothof the load carrier and slide member engagement surfaces 90, 94 areinclined, if desired only a selected one of the two engagement surfaceswould be inclined. The slide member is preferably elongated betweenopposite left and right slide member ends 96, 98, and the slide memberengagement surface 94 is substantially continuous between the slidemember ends 96, 98. The slide member extends substantially perpendicularto and is centrally positioned with respect to the trailer deck centrallongitudinal axis. Thus, the slide member ends 96, 98 are positioned onopposite sides of the central trailer axis. Further, the carrier endsare also positioned on opposite sides of the central trailer axis withthe slide member ends extending beyond the carrier ends. Both of theengagement surfaces 90, 94 are substantially smooth, so that theengagement surfaces can slide over each other.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, the actuators 70 comprise hydrauliccylinders operatively coupled between the gooseneck frame forward crossbar 60 and the upper cross bar 78 of the load carrier 66. The actuatorsare symmetrically positioned with respect to the central longitudinalaxis of the trailer 20. Each of the ends 100 of the actuators arepivotally connected to the respective cross bars by eight actuator pivotbrackets 102 that are welded to the respective forward and upward crossbars 60, 78. The hydraulic cylinders are preferably powered by thetowing vehicle's hydraulic system and are provided with controls (notshown) on the outer side of the left (driver's side) gooseneck framemember 52.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 11, the front end releasable securement 72includes a pair of protrusions 104 and a pair of receivers 106configured to receive the protrusions 104 and detachably and pivotallyconnect the lower end 64 of the gooseneck frame 50 with the front end 32of the deck 22. The protrusions and receivers are positioned on oppositesides of the trailer longitudinal axis. The protrusions 104 preferablyextend from the trailer deck, and the receivers are preferably definedby the gooseneck frame 50. Alternatively, the protrusions could beextended from a selected one of the trailer deck 22, load carrier 66,and gooseneck frame 50 with the receiver provided on another of thetrailer deck 22, load carrier 66, and gooseneck frame 50. Theprotrusions 104 preferably extend in an inward direction substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trailer 20. The forwardfaces 108 are preferably rounded to help guide the protrusions 104 intothe receivers 106. Additionally, the inner forward corners 110 of theprotrusions 104 are beveled to assist in alignment. The undersides ofthe protrusions include a recess 112 which allows the protrusions topivot in the receivers 106 forming a second transverse axis at thesecurement. Thus, the trailer can buckle and unbuckle about the secondtransverse axis when the gooseneck is attached to the deck.

Referring additionally to FIG. 9, the receivers 106 are attached to thelower ends 64 of the gooseneck frame members 52, 54. The receiveropenings open outward and rearward, and the edges 114, which extendaround the upper, lower, and inner sides of the openings are beveled toguide the deck and gooseneck into alignment. Additional alignment plates116 are attached to inner sides of the receivers 106. The alignmentplates 116 also include beveled edges 118. The receiver openings widenfrom the base 120 to the rearward mouth to compensate for misalignmentin the height of the protrusions and receivers. Thus, the upper andlower surfaces of the receivers 106 are inclined away from the centers.The alignment plates 116, beveled edges 114, and beveled comers 110 ofthe protrusions 104 compensate for misalignment of the receivers andprotrusions in a side-to-side direction. The base 120 of the receiveropening is preferably curved to match the radius of the protrusionforward face 108 and allow the protrusions 104 to pivot in the receiver106. Allowing the protrusions 104 to pivot in the receivers 106 allowsan operator to adjust the ride height of the trailer deck.Alternatively, a pin and eyelet arrangement could be utilized for thefront securement 72.

Referring again to FIGS. 8 and 11, the latching mechanism 34 includes asubstantially rigid latch plate 122, a latch plate biasing member 124,and a substantially rigid catch 126. The latch plate is elongated and ispivotally mounted to the retainer leg 84 between the carrier ends 74,76. Four latch pivot brackets 128 rotatably hold a latch pivot pin 130which forms a pivot point about which the latch plate pivots. The latchpivot brackets 128 include an upturned tail 129 to reinforce the loadcarrier engagement surface 90. The latch plate is held by two platemounts 132 positioned near the opposite ends of the plate between thelatch pivot brackets, and the latch pivot pin 130 extends through theplate mounts 132 and pivot brackets 128. Lever arms 134 extend from theplate mounts 132 in a direction substantially opposite to the latchplate 122, so that the lever arms are fixed relative to the latch plate.

The biasing member 124 preferably comprises a tension spring attached toone of the lever arms and to a latch spring mount plate 136 which isconnected to the right carrier end 76 and the bottom rearward radiussurface 95A (FIG. 7). Because the latch spring 124 pulls upwardly on thelever arm 134, the latch plate 122 is biased toward an outward latchedposition. A retraction member 138, preferably an air cylinder, isconnected to the other lever arm and to a retraction member mount plate140 which is connected to the left carrier end 74 and to the bottomrearward radius surface 95A (FIG. 7). When the retraction air cylinder138 is actuated, it overcomes the biasing member 124, forces the leverarm 134 downwardly, and pivots the latch plate 122 into the unlatchedposition within the confines of the retainer leg 84 as shown in FIG. 12in solid lines. When pressure is released from the air cylinder 138, thelatch biasing member 124 pivots the latch plate back into the latchedposition as shown in broken lines in FIG. 12.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 12 and 13, the catch 126 preferablycomprises first and second catch blocks (FIG. 8) which are positionedadjacent to opposite ends of the latch plate 122. The catch 126 andslide member 68 define a retainer leg receiving opening 142therebetween. The catch is mounted on the trailer deck opposite theslide member 68, and the latch plate 122 is inclined rearward; so thatwhen the retainer leg is inserted into the receiving opening 142, thelatch plate, being biased toward the rearward latched position, ispivoted slightly out of the latched position and slides over the catch126. Thus, the latch plate 122 automatically engages the catch 126.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 14, and 15, the lift mechanism 36 includes a pairof carrier arms 144 joined by a carrier cross bar 146, and a pair oflift actuator arms 148 extending forward from the tops of the loadcarrier ends 74, 76. The carrier arms 144 are hingedly mounted about ahinge pin 150 provided by the outer actuator pivot brackets 102 mountedon the forward cross bar 60 of the gooseneck frame and carrier pivotbrackets 152 also mounted on the forward cross bar 60. The carrier armsare preferably channels and pivot between lift positions in which theyengage a towing vehicle frame 154 (FIG. 1) and retracted positions inwhich they are spaced apart, preferably above, the tow vehicle frame154. The carrier cross bar 146 extends between the carrier arms 144 andengages the tow vehicle frame 154. The position of the carrier cross bar146 is adjustable along the length of the carrier arms by fastening thecarrier cross bar 146 to different locations along carrier cross barmounts 156, preferably welded to the bases of the carrier arms 144.

The lift actuator arms 148 extend forward from the tops of the loadcarrier ends 74, 76 and terminate with a rounded skid 158, which isslidably received in the channels of the carrier arms 144 when the loadcarrier is pivoted into the detached position. The lift mechanism isalso provided with a carrier arm biasing assembly 160 for each carrierarm. The carrier arm biasing assemblies are substantially identical andwill be described with reference to only one of the biasing assemblies160. The biasing assembly comprises a floating biasing member,preferably a compression spring 162, having a compression shaft 164extending substantially centrally through the spring. The compressionshaft 164 is received in a stationary slotted flange 166 which isattached to the forward cross bar 60 of the gooseneck frame 50. A firstwasher 168 and first end nut 170 secure the compression shaft 164 in thestationary slotted flange 166. The compression shaft also extendsthrough a pivoting slotted flange 171 fastened to the carrier armadjacent the pivot point 150, so that the pivoting slotted flange 171pivots with the carrier arm. The opposite end of the compression shaft164 includes a second flat washer 172 and second end nut 174. The spring162 is positioned between the second flat washer 172 and the pivotingslotted flange 171, so that as the carrier arm pivots downwardly towardthe lift position the spring is compressed between the flat washer 170and the pivoting slotted flange 171. Preferably, a third flat washer 176is interposed between the spring and the pivoting slotted flange 171 tostabilize the end of the spring 162 against the pivoting slotted flange171.

As the load carrier 66 pivots toward the detached position, the skids158 are moved into the channels of the carrier arms 144. As the carrier66 continues to move, the skids slide forward and force the carrier arms144 downward and compress the springs 162 until the carrier cross bar146 rests on the towing vehicle frame 154 to support the gooseneck abovethe ground. When the actuators 70 are retracted, the load carrier 66 ismoved toward the attached position moving the skids upward and slidingthe skids 158 rearward in the channels. The biasing assemblies 160 forcethe carrier arms 144 upwardly to disengage them from the towing vehicleframe 154. As the carrier 66 continues to move toward the attachedposition, the carrier arms 144 reach the retracted positions above thevehicle frame 154 and the skids move out of the channels of the carrierarms 144.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 16, and 17, the ride height lock assembly 37preferably comprises a ratchet and pawl assembly having two pawls 178,two ratchets 180, and a lift member 182. The pawls 178 have pawl teeth184 on their lower surfaces and are pivotally mounted on pawl brackets186 attached to the gooseneck rearward cross bar 62. A tie rod 187extends between the two pawls and extends outwardly from at least a leftone of the pawls. A tie rod extension 189 provides an attachment for thelift member 182 and contacts the gooseneck left side flange 52 to stopthe pawls from extending too far upward. The lift member 182 preferablycomprises an air cylinder which can be on the same air circuit and havethe same controls as the latching mechanism retraction air cylinder 138.Thus, the two cylinders 138, 182 can be actuated and releasedsimultaneously. The lift member 182 is attached to the gooseneck leftside frame member 52 and the tie rod extension 189 adjacent the left oneof the pawls 178. When the lift member 182 is pressurized, its pistonextends, and the pawls 178 are pivoted upwardly. The ratchets 180comprise a plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the tops of the liftmechanism actuator arms 148, which extend from the carrier ends 74, 76.

When the lift cylinder 182 is depressurized, gravity pulls the pawlteeth 184 into engagement with the ratchet teeth preventing the carrierfrom moving toward the detached position. The ratchet and pawl teethhave forward inclined faces 188 allowing the pawl teeth 184 to ratchetas the actuators 70 extend and move the carrier toward the maximum rideheight position. After the desired ride height is achieved, theactuators 70 are retracted slightly to seat the substantially verticalpawl and ratchet teeth surfaces 190, 192. With the vertical teethsurfaces 190, 192 seated, the trailer deck cannot detach from thegooseneck and the actuators 70 are not significantly loaded.

In operation, the trailer 20 is towed to a pick up location with thetrailer deck attached and suspended above the ground as shown in FIGS. 4and 5. The actuators 70 are extended a small distance to unseat thevertical pawl and ratchet teeth surfaces 190, 192. The retraction aircylinder 138 and lift cylinder 182 are pressurized substantiallysimultaneously disengaging the latch plate 122 from the catch 126 andthe pawls 178 from the ratchets 180. The actuators 70 are then retractedrotating the load carrier 66 forward. The front end 32 of the trailerdeck 22 then contacts the ground. The top of the carrier 66 continues tomove forward rotating around the pivot shaft 86 to the position shown inFIGS. 3 and 10. The lift actuator arms 148 engage the carrier arms 144and push the carrier arms 144 downwardly until the carrier cross bar 146engages the towing vehicle frame 154. The towing vehicle 28 andgooseneck 24 are then pulled forward sliding the protrusions 104 out ofthe receivers 106. If the tow vehicle 28 is to be moved a greaterdistance, the carrier is rotated farther forward to the position shownin FIGS. 1 and 9 to lift the lower end 64 of the gooseneck 24 fartherabove the ground.

The equipment is then loaded onto the front end 32 of the trailer deck22, positioned, and secured. The tow vehicle 28 and gooseneck 24 arethen backed up to the front end 32 of the trailer deck 22. If necessary,the actuators 70 are extended or retracted as required, so that the liftmechanism 36 lowers or raises the gooseneck lower end 64 to adjust theheight of the receivers 106 relative to the protrusions 104. Thegooseneck 24 is then further backed up to the trailer deck 22 until theprotrusions 104 are received at least partially in the receivers 106. Ifthe gooseneck 24 and trailer deck 22 are misaligned side-to-side, theinner beveled edges 114, 118 of the receiver openings and alignmentplates 116 engage the beveled comers 110 of the protrusions to align thegooseneck 24 with the trailer deck 22 in their side-to-siderelationship. If the protrusions and receivers are misaligned in height,the curved forward faces 108 of the protrusions 104 are guided intoposition by the widened mouths and upper and lower edges 114 of thereceivers 106. The widened mouths and curved forward faces function toguide the protrusions even when the front end 32 of the trailer deck 22is tilted with respect to the gooseneck, causing one of the protrusionsto be too high and the other protrusion to be too low for the respectivereceivers.

Occasionally, the trailer deck and gooseneck are misaligned to theextent that the protrusions are not fully received in the receiver bysimply backing the gooseneck up to the trailer deck 22 or the driversimply fails to back the gooseneck a sufficient distance to fully engagethe protrusions 104 in the receivers 106. With prior trailer attachmentassemblies this would require the driver to realign the gooseneck 24 andtrailer deck 22 or continue backing the gooseneck, forcing the trailerdeck 22 to slide into closer alignment.

With the trailer attachment assembly 30 according to the presentinvention, the attachment process is continued without furthermanipulation of the towing vehicle 28. The retraction and lift aircylinders 138, 182 are depressurized rotating the latch plate 122 intothe latched position and allowing the pawls 178 to drop. The carrier 66is rotated rearward by extending the actuators, disengaging the liftmechanism 36 from the vehicle frame 154 and bringing the load carrierengagement surface 90 into engagement with the slide member engagementsurface 94. As the actuators continue to extend and rotate the carrier66, the retainer leg 84 is forced downwardly, and the load carrierengagement surface 90 slides over the slide member engagement surface94, drawing the trailer deck 22 forward toward the gooseneck 24. Ifthere is a relative tilt, the low end of the load carrier engagementsurface 90 will first engage the high end of the slide member high enddownwardly. This early engagement of the carrier and slide member endsis achieved by spacing the carrier and slide member ends from thecentral longitudinal axis of the trailer. When the retainer leg 84 isfully received in the retainer leg receiving opening 142, theprotrusions 104 are fully seated in the receivers 106, and the latchplate 122 is in the latched position and held by the catch 126 as shownin FIG. 13.

The actuators 70 are further extended lifting the front end 32 of thetrailer deck 22 off the ground. As the actuators 70 continue to extend,the carrier continues to rotate rearward until the pawl 178 slides overthe tops of the carrier ends 74, 76 and engages the ratchet 180. Whenthe pawl teeth are engaged in the rear most ratchet teeth, the trailerdeck 22 is in its lowest ride position. When the pawl teeth 184 areengaged in the forward most ratchet teeth, the trailer deck is in itshighest position. Once the trailer deck is at the desired ride height,the cylinders are retracted a small distance to take the load off thecylinders and seat the substantially vertical teeth surfaces 190, 192 ofthe pawls 178 and ratchets 180.

Therefore, the trailer attachment assembly 30 according to the presentinvention, simplifies the trailer attachment process by reducing theneed to manipulate the towing vehicle 28 even when the gooseneck 24 andtrailer deck 22 are positioned at a relative side-to-side tilt. Further,the latching mechanism 34 automatically latches the trailer deck 22 tothe gooseneck 24, and the lift mechanism 36 according to the presentinvention utilizes lift actuator arms 148 to eliminate the need for athird hydraulic cylinder.

Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, itis to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only,and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scopeof the present invention. Modifications to the exemplary embodiments, asherein above set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the appended claims.

The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine ofEquivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of theirinvention as pertains to any apparatus or method not materiallydeparting from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set outin the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A trailer for receiving cargo thereon and for attachment toa towing vehicle to transport cargo, the trailer comprising: a gooseneckincluding a substantially rigid frame having a lower end, an upper end,and a towing vehicle attachment adjacent the upper end for attaching thegooseneck to the towing vehicle, said gooseneck further including a loadcarrier movable relative to the frame between a detached position and anattached position; a substantially rigid trailer deck having a frontend, a back end, a central longitudinal axis extending from the frontend to the back end, and transversely extending towing structurerearwardly spaced from the front end of the deck, said load carrierhaving a retainer leg that is hooked behind said towing structure inengagement therewith when the load carrier is in said attached positionto establish a towing connection between the gooseneck and the deck,said towing structure including generally rearwardly facing surfaceportions that are spaced outwardly in opposite lateral directions fromsaid central longitudinal axis of the deck, said retainer leg includinggenerally forwardly facing surface portions that are spaced outwardly inopposite lateral directions from said longitudinal axis of the deck indisposition to engage said rearwardly facing surface portions of thetowing structure when the load carrier is in said attached position; aplurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted to the trailerdeck; a securement establishing a lifting connection between thegooseneck and the front end of the deck, said securement being disposedforwardly of said retainer leg and said towing structure, saidsecurement including components on the frame and the deck that arespaced outwardly in opposite lateral directions from said centrallongitudinal axis of the deck; and an actuator operatively coupledbetween said frame and the load carrier to move the load carrier betweensaid detached and attached positions.
 2. The trailer according to claim1 wherein said surface portions of the towing structure and the retainerleg comprise cam surfaces configured in such a manner as to cause thedeck and the gooseneck to be drawn relatively toward one another as theload carrier is moved to said attached position.
 3. The traileraccording to claim 1 wherein the load carrier is pivotally mounted tothe gooseneck frame.
 4. The trailer according to claim 2 wherein theload carrier is pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the lower end ofthe frame for movement of the load carrier about a transverse horizontalpivot axis, said securement components on the frame being locatedsubstantially at said pivot axis of the load carrier.
 5. The traileraccording to claim 2 wherein said towing structure comprises anelongated cylindrical member presenting an arcuate rear face that formsthe cam surface of the towing structure.
 6. The trailer according toclaim 5 wherein said retainer leg of the load carrier has a transversewidth that is slightly less than the length of said cylindrical member,said cam surface on the retainer leg and said cam surface on thecylindrical member being continuous over the full width of the loadcarrier.
 7. The trailer according to claim 6 wherein said deck has anelongated, transversely extending opening behind the cylindrical memberwithin which said retainer leg of the load carrier is received.
 8. Thetrailer according to claim 1 wherein said components of the securementcomprise a pair of laterally spaced protrusions and a pair of laterallyspaced receivers for said protrusions.
 9. The trailer according to claim8 wherein said protrusions are on the deck and the receivers are on theframe of the gooseneck.
 10. A trailer for receiving cargo thereon andfor attachment to a towing vehicle to transport cargo, the trailercomprising: a substantially rigid gooseneck frame having a lower end, anupper end, and a towing vehicle attachment adjacent the upper end forattaching the gooseneck frame to the towing vehicle; a load carrierconnected to the gooseneck frame, the load carrier having a retainer legincluding a load carrier engagement surface, and the load carrier beingmovable between a detached position and an attached position; asubstantially rigid trailer deck having a front end, a back end, acentral longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the back end,and a trailer deck engagement surface rearwardly spaced from the frontend of the deck; a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mountedto the trailer deck; a front end securement protrusion extending betweenthe trailer deck and the gooseneck frame, the securement protrusionbeing positioned forward of the load carrier and trailer deck engagementsurfaces; a front end receiver receiving the protrusion therein tosecure the front end of the trailer to the gooseneck frame; an actuatoroperatively coupled between the gooseneck frame and the load carrier tomove the load carrier relative to the gooseneck frame and relative tothe trailer deck and bring the trailer deck engagement surface intoengagement with the load carrier engagement surface and draw the trailerdeck toward the gooseneck frame; and an automatic latching mechanismincluding a latch plate pivotally mounted on the retainer leg and havinga latched position and an unlatched position, a biasing member engagingthe latch plate and biasing the latch plate toward the latched position,and a catch connected to the trailer deck and positioned to engage thelatch plate when the load carrier is in the attached position and thelatch plate is in the latched position.
 11. A trailer for receivingcargo thereon and for attachment to a towing vehicle to transport cargo,the trailer comprising: a substantially rigid gooseneck frame having alower end, an upper end, and a towing vehicle attachment adjacent theupper end for attaching the gooseneck frame to the towing vehicle; aload carrier connected to the gooseneck frame, the load carrier having aretainer leg including a load carrier engagement surface, and the loadcarrier being movable between a detached position and an attachedposition; a substantially rigid trailer deck having a front end, a backend, a central longitudinal axis extending from the front end to theback end, and a trailer deck engagement surface rearwardly spaced fromthe front end of the deck; a plurality of ground engaging wheelsrotatably mounted to the trailer deck; a front end securement protrusionextending between the trailer deck and the gooseneck frame, thesecurement protrusion being positioned forward of the load carrier andtrailer deck engagement surfaces; a front end receiver receiving theprotrusion therein to secure the front end of the trailer to thegooseneck frame; an actuator operatively coupled between the gooseneckframe and the load carrier to move the load carrier relative to thegooseneck frame and relative to the trailer deck and bring the trailerdeck engagement surface into engagement with the load carrier engagementsurface and draw the trailer deck toward the gooseneck frame; and a liftmechanism including a carrier arm hingedly connected to the gooseneckframe and a lift actuator arm extending forward from the load carrier toengage the carrier arm and force the carrier against a towing vehicleframe when the load carrier is moved to the detached position.